US considering permanent cutbacks at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle taxis the runway at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. For the past several years, Incirlik Air Base has been a strategic linchpin in the bombing campaign against the Islamic State. (Staff Sgt. Eboni Reams/Air Force)

Friction between the United States and Turkey may be scaling back the U.S. footprint at the strategically important Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey.

The U.S. military has curbed combat operations flying out of Incirlik and permanent cutbacks could be in the works, the Wall Street Journal has reported.

Erdogan has focused his efforts away from ISIS’ remaining strongholds and towards the Kurdish enclave in Afrin, Syria, against the wishes of U.S. officials. The enclave houses Kurdish militias that Turkey views as allies of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, a separatist group within Turkey.

Informal restrictions by the Turkish military that make using the runway at Incirlik difficult, along with a deteriorating relationship between the two governments, contributed to a decision to scale back operations at the base, officials told the Wall Street Journal.

As Kurdish fighters have departed the frontlines in the battle against the Islamic State, American airstrikes in eastern Syria have decreased sharply.

By: Kyle Rempfer

In January, for instance, a squadron of A-10 Thunderbolt IIs were shifted from Incirlik to Afghanistan. U.S. Air Forces Central Command officially said that the move was for the purpose of shifting focus from fighting ISIS to fighting the Taliban.

While Turkey didn’t impose any formal restrictions on the use of the base, American officials told the Wall Street Journal that flying out of there has become difficult, as the base is constantly held as a leverage point by Turkish authorities.

For example, two American officials said Turkey has at times requested the U.S. suspend operations on the runway, sometimes halting sorties for more than a day, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Despite this, U.S. and Turkish officials have also told the Washington Post that the U.S. military is working to resolve the dispute.

A U.S. Air Force pilot steps out of an A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft shortly after arriving at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Oct. 15, 2015. The 12 A-10s were deployed to Incirlik in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. (Airman 1st Class Cory Bush/Air Force)

A senior Turkish official told the Post that Turkey wants to push Kurdish forces from Manbij, a town where U.S. troops are posted roughly 25 miles from Turkey’s border, and relocate them east of the Euphrates River.

The top U.S. commander for Operation Inherent Resolve, Army Lt. Gen. Paul Funk, visited Manbij in February, though, and promised the continued presence of U.S. troops there.

Turkey recently had a falling out with another important NATO ally: Germany.

After Turkey refused to allow German lawmakers to visit Incirlik Air Base, German military planes were relocated to Jordan in September, according to Deutsche Welle.

Despite these ongoing tensions between the NATO allies, Incirlik Air Base still retains refueling planes, F-22 Raptors and F-15 Eagles, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Additionally, if the need arises, U.S. officials said the A-10s could return to Incirlik at any time.